ALLRRRIGHT, ladies and gentlemen!
This might be a post. But here we go... It has been 1 YEAR since I left the safety of my home, my family that I hold dear, the friends that I've made over the years, the hobbies I've used to love doing, and the wonderful and awe inspiring cooking of my angelic mum. I have left all of these things behind and many more things, to come to England for one specific reason. To love and serve God and His people. Now one might think to themself, "Now, who in their sane mind would leave all of that behind just to go to England to talk to people about God?" Well, before I answer that question, I will have you know that I'm actually 100% sane (at least I hope so). Alright, with that now out of the way, let me tell you why.
Looking back, I was quite a rebellious child at times while growing up. I won't get into specifics, but I think 9/10 --especially children growing up in this generation-- go through this. Anyway, I think for a big portion of my life, I was just going through the motions. I was going to church because my family did, I attended youth groups maybe more for social reasons and at times, I didn't even feel like going to church, and the reason? Because I was living off the testimony of those around me. Now granted, there are times when leaning on other testimonies can be OK, like when you are going through times where your faith is being tested. As Jeffrey Holland said:
"What was once a tiny seed of belief for me has grown into the tree of life, so if your faith is a little tested in this or any season, I invite you to lean on mine." (Holland, "Lord, I Believe" April 2013)
But to live on others testimonies for long periods of time without obtaining your own is a dangerous game. It will always lead to a dead end. So to put it simply, I was living the gospel casually for a period of time. I didn't really have the drive to change, until my sister left on her mission. That drive lasted all about a few months and then went away because I didn't really "fuel the fire", so to speak.
So, 1st lesson learned here... if you don't act on spiritual promptings, they soon leave and may not come back for a while. It wasn't until my sister came back from her mission that I got an answer to my many prayers to get that drive back. So when it did come back, I did eveything I could to hold onto it. Not long after that, I came to realise --through the answers I received-- that this is God's true and living church on the earth today. I've also felt the redeeming love through the Atonemnt of Jesus Christ, that through Him, change is possible, no matter what your situation is. As I continued to try my best to follow Christ's light, of course I still messed up, but I have felt the true enabling power of the Atonement of Christ and I continued to use it growing up and still use it now. Perhaps maybe I dramatise that I had "no testimony". I'm sure I had one, but it certainly wasn't strong enough to stand on its own. But through that experience I have now come to know the joy that the gospel of Jesus Christ can bring into my life. And I know the joy that it can bring to the lives of others. It is for this very reason that I left everything behind to come out and serve a full-time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. If I can change, and if I can now understand God's love, I want to help other do the same.
Fastforward to right now. As I reflect back at those experiences I am filled with nothing but gratitude towards our Heavenly Father. I have left the safety of my home, but now this place feels like my home. I've left my family and those I hold dear, but the other missionaries I have met over this past year and the Mission President and his wife, they are my family. My friends, I've made many, many more. My hobbies, I've made other ones! And the food... I've come close to my mum's level of cooking now (yeah, I'll challenge her to a cook-off when I get back!). The point is, change is good. Why? Because it give us opportunity. Opportunity to make new friends, learn new things, develop new skills, love new people, and meet new family. But most important of all, this change has helped shape me closer to what my Father in Heaven wants for me, helped to strengthen my faith and testimony of God's love for us, the Atonement of Jesus Christ, the Book of Mormon, the Prophet Russell M. Nelson, the Restoration, and the joy that come from living the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
I bear witness of the divinity and reality of Christ. He was betrayed and He suffered it. He was mocked, beaten and spat upon and he suffered it. He was scouraged and bruised for us and He suffered it. He literally "descended below all things" for everyone who has lived and ever will live, so "in that he comprehended all things, that he might be in all and through all things, the light of truth". Jesus Christ lives! He loves you! He knows your pains and challenges, and through Him, you can be healed and changed if you choose to let Him. Look to God and live!
With Love,
Elder Jakob
This might be a post. But here we go... It has been 1 YEAR since I left the safety of my home, my family that I hold dear, the friends that I've made over the years, the hobbies I've used to love doing, and the wonderful and awe inspiring cooking of my angelic mum. I have left all of these things behind and many more things, to come to England for one specific reason. To love and serve God and His people. Now one might think to themself, "Now, who in their sane mind would leave all of that behind just to go to England to talk to people about God?" Well, before I answer that question, I will have you know that I'm actually 100% sane (at least I hope so). Alright, with that now out of the way, let me tell you why.
Looking back, I was quite a rebellious child at times while growing up. I won't get into specifics, but I think 9/10 --especially children growing up in this generation-- go through this. Anyway, I think for a big portion of my life, I was just going through the motions. I was going to church because my family did, I attended youth groups maybe more for social reasons and at times, I didn't even feel like going to church, and the reason? Because I was living off the testimony of those around me. Now granted, there are times when leaning on other testimonies can be OK, like when you are going through times where your faith is being tested. As Jeffrey Holland said:
"What was once a tiny seed of belief for me has grown into the tree of life, so if your faith is a little tested in this or any season, I invite you to lean on mine." (Holland, "Lord, I Believe" April 2013)
But to live on others testimonies for long periods of time without obtaining your own is a dangerous game. It will always lead to a dead end. So to put it simply, I was living the gospel casually for a period of time. I didn't really have the drive to change, until my sister left on her mission. That drive lasted all about a few months and then went away because I didn't really "fuel the fire", so to speak.
So, 1st lesson learned here... if you don't act on spiritual promptings, they soon leave and may not come back for a while. It wasn't until my sister came back from her mission that I got an answer to my many prayers to get that drive back. So when it did come back, I did eveything I could to hold onto it. Not long after that, I came to realise --through the answers I received-- that this is God's true and living church on the earth today. I've also felt the redeeming love through the Atonemnt of Jesus Christ, that through Him, change is possible, no matter what your situation is. As I continued to try my best to follow Christ's light, of course I still messed up, but I have felt the true enabling power of the Atonement of Christ and I continued to use it growing up and still use it now. Perhaps maybe I dramatise that I had "no testimony". I'm sure I had one, but it certainly wasn't strong enough to stand on its own. But through that experience I have now come to know the joy that the gospel of Jesus Christ can bring into my life. And I know the joy that it can bring to the lives of others. It is for this very reason that I left everything behind to come out and serve a full-time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. If I can change, and if I can now understand God's love, I want to help other do the same.
Fastforward to right now. As I reflect back at those experiences I am filled with nothing but gratitude towards our Heavenly Father. I have left the safety of my home, but now this place feels like my home. I've left my family and those I hold dear, but the other missionaries I have met over this past year and the Mission President and his wife, they are my family. My friends, I've made many, many more. My hobbies, I've made other ones! And the food... I've come close to my mum's level of cooking now (yeah, I'll challenge her to a cook-off when I get back!). The point is, change is good. Why? Because it give us opportunity. Opportunity to make new friends, learn new things, develop new skills, love new people, and meet new family. But most important of all, this change has helped shape me closer to what my Father in Heaven wants for me, helped to strengthen my faith and testimony of God's love for us, the Atonement of Jesus Christ, the Book of Mormon, the Prophet Russell M. Nelson, the Restoration, and the joy that come from living the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
I bear witness of the divinity and reality of Christ. He was betrayed and He suffered it. He was mocked, beaten and spat upon and he suffered it. He was scouraged and bruised for us and He suffered it. He literally "descended below all things" for everyone who has lived and ever will live, so "in that he comprehended all things, that he might be in all and through all things, the light of truth". Jesus Christ lives! He loves you! He knows your pains and challenges, and through Him, you can be healed and changed if you choose to let Him. Look to God and live!
With Love,
Elder Jakob
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